“A Day Which Shall Live In Infamy”

Seventy-seven years ago, on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by forces from the Japanese Empire, with then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt designating the day as “a day which will shall live in infamy.” We recognize this date each year to honor both the lives lost in Pearl Harbor and the sacrifices that were made to secure our country’s safety throughout history.

On that Sunday morning, a total of 353 Japanese fighter planes descended from the sky onto Oahu, Hawaii, and damaged or completely demolished about 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships and over 300 airplanes. The attack took the lives of more than 2,400 Americans and injured over one thousand civilians and military personnel.

Following the Japanese strike, the United States declared war on the Japanese Empire the next day on December 8, 1941, and later fully entered World War II on both fronts. The United States’ contributions to the Allies’ effort in World War II were substantial, but ultimately cost the lives of many brave Americans who died in combat, protecting our freedom at home.